Montana State University
Portland State
Bobcats Face Four Matches in Eight Days
10/23/2019 12:15:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Montana State volleyball team will begin the most arduous part of its Big Sky Conference schedule when it plays four matches in eight days beginning at Portland State, Thursday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. (MT) in Viking Pavilion.
BOBCATS BEGIN FOUR MATCH RUN IN EIGHT DAY STRETCH:
The Montana State volleyball team will begin the most arduous part of its Big Sky Conference schedule when it plays four matches in eight days beginning at Portland State, Thursday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. (MT) in Viking Pavilion. Following its match at PSU, the Bobcats will host Sacramento State on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. in Shroyer Gym. The contest will be MSU's annual Pink Match in support of the fight against breast cancer. All fans wearing pink will be admitted on a $3 ticket. The Bobcats will close out its three-match homestand when it hosts Montana on Tuesday, Oct. 29 and Northern Colorado, Thursday, Oct. 31.
SIDE OUTS:
* Montana State trails Portland State 43-22-1 in its all-time series dating back to 1979
* MSU has won the last two meetings between the Big Sky rivals, winning both last year
* Prior to last season, PSU had won 22 straight matches in the series back to 2005
* Montana State trails Sacramento State 45-6 in its all-time series going back to 1991
* The Hornets have won 13 consecutive matches from the Bobcats
* MSU's last victory over Sacramento State (3-0) came in Bozeman on Oct. 15, 2010
* Allyssa Rizzo is Montana State's all-time career digs leader with 1,853 digs
* Rizzo is the only Bobcat in history to surpass the 1,800-dig plateau
* Rizzo is currently ranked third in the nation averaging 5.92 digs per set
* Senor Evi Wilson paced the Bobcats last weekend averaging 4.00 kills per set
* Against ISU, Allie Lynch almost posted a triple-double with 7 kills, 49 assists & 10 digs
A LEAGUE OF HER OWN:
Senior Allyssa Rizzo became the ninth member of Montana State's prestigious 1,000-Dig Club when she notched 23 saves against Louisiana on Sept. 7, 2018. Since then, she has shattered the roof on MSU's all-time digs chart. On Thursday, Oct. 3, Rizzo became Montana State's all-time career digs leader when she racked-up 21 saves in the Bobcats' 3-1 win over Idaho. Her current career total stands at 1,853, making her the only Bobcat in history to go over the 1,800-dig plateau. The Crestwood, Ill., product ranks sixth all-time in Big Sky Conference history, as well.
1. Allyssa Rizzo, 16--............ 1,853
2. Kandice Kelly, 03-06......... 1,720
3. Meghan Albiston, 07-10.... 1,577
4. Nicole Baker, 10-13.......... 1,564
5. Kamber Kelly, 01-04.......... 1,262
6. Meggie Malyurek, 02-05... 1,223
7. Stephanie Laya, 97-00....... 1,183
8. Mindy Nowak, 96-99........ 1,073
9. Kasey Schlatter, 11-14...... 1,059
RIZZO 2.0:
Senior Allyssa Rizzo is ranked third in the nation averaging 5.92 digs per set. She is ranked behind Charlotte's Yumi Garcia (6.57) and Wright State's Jenna Story (6.34). Rizzo's career-high 37 dig output against Northwestern State on Aug. 30 is the 14th highest total recorded this season at the NCAA Division I level, while her 34-save effort against Loyola Maryland is the ninth highest total for a four-set match. Rizzo leads the Big Sky at 5.92 per set. She is followed by Ellie Snook of Portland State, who averages 5.34 digs per outing.
HARD BLOCK CAFE:
For the first time in a long time, the Bobcats are ranked among the Big Sky's best in blocking. Montana State currently ranks third in the league averaging 2.42 blocks per set. MSU also sports two players among the top 10 in the conference. Junior Kelsie White in third in the conference averaging 1.17 blocks per set, while freshman Emma Pence is listed sixth at 1.14 per contest.
WHITE WATCH:
Junior Kelsie White is quickly moving up the all-time MSU block charts and is closing in on being ranked among the top 10 in block assists and total blocks.
BLOCK ASSISTS:
1. Megan Zanto, 02-05......... 511
2. Karen Weyler, 94-97......... 460
3. Cori Carper, 96-99............ 425
4. Anglea Wiebe, 03-06........ 394
5. Aimee Halyk, 99-02........... 308
6. Julia Handwerk, 98-01...... 290
7. Kim Steffel, 89-92............. 283
8. Mindy Nowak, 96-99........ 277
9. Natalee Godfrey, 12-15.... 271
10. Kamber Kelly, 01-04.......... 269
-- Kelsie White, 2017--......... 256
TOTAL BLOCKS:
1. Megan Zanto, 02-05......... 592
2. Karen Weyler, 94-97......... 570
3. Cori Carper, 96-99............ 490
4. Anglea Wiebe, 03-06........ 416
5. Kim Steffel, 89-92............. 356
6. Lisa McCanlies, 80-83....... 341
7. Aimee Halyk, 99-02........... 327
8. Julia Handwerk, 98-01...... 318
Becky Waddell, 83-86....... 318
10. Karin Lundqvist, 00-01...... 300
-- Kelsie White, 2017--......... 286
GREAT SCOTT:
Junior Hannah Scott (who possesses the best playlist on the team) is off to a hot start after moving to the rightside position. The Hawthorne, Calif., native, has been in double figure kills in nine matches, including a pair of 17-kill outings, which is just one kill shy of her career-best 18 kills set against Weber State as a freshman. The 5-11 outside hitter entered the season with a career .135 attack mark. After 17 matches this season, Scott is hitting a .243 from the field. She has posted ten matches hitting over .250 this fall, including a season-best .438 (7-0-16) attack mark in MSU's win over Montana on Sept. 24.
A LENDING HAND:
Former Bozeman High product and Montana Class AA state champion setter Allie Lynch is settling into her junior season at Montana State. Lynch currently averages 9.78 assists per set, which ranks fourth in the Big Sky Conference. On the season, she has registered five matches with 45 assists or more, including a season-high 51 assists in MSU's win over Loyola Maryland. Last Saturday, she notched a career-high seven kills leading the Bobcats to a 3-1 win over Idaho State. Lynch also leads in the Bobcats from the service line with a team-best 16 aces. She has recorded a season-high three aces on two occasions this fall, the last coming against Arkansas on Aug. 31. Defensively, her 1.91 digs per set is third best on the squad, while her .57 blocks per set average ranks fourth on the team.
CLIMBING THE LADDER:
As the MSU program continues to improve, its numbers within the league's statistical categories have shown remarkable improvement. In the 12 team categories, the Cats are ranked in the top five in five listings. MSU is ranked first in opponent aces (0.97), third in opponent hitting percentage (.188) and blocks (2.43), fourth in kills (12.42) and fifth in assists (11.46).
FAB FROSH:
A pair of freshmen are part of Montana State's starting rotation. Outside hitter Kira Thomsen and middle blocker Emma Pence had made an early impact for MSU playing in all 17 matches. The duo has combined for 286 kills, 148 digs and 93 blocks. Last weekend, Thomsen led MSU with a team-high 2 kills against Weber State. Pence paced MSU at the net with seven blocks against Idaho State and six blocks against Weber State. For the seven sets, she averaged 1.86 bps.
